2024 Amplify Portland Grant Awardees
In partnership with Travel Portland, the Portland Events and Film Office is excited to announce the three recipients of the Amplify Portland: Local Filmmakers Production Grant. The Amplify Portland Grant is intended to create opportunity for filmmakers utilizing local talent, crew and vendors during production. Our aim was to contribute to productions that build professional development of the local industry and have the potential to bring exposure to Portland through unique stories with diverse representation both in front of and behind the camera.
“Once again, I am blown away by the talent that is coming out of Portland. The stories being told range from many different genres, but the one thing they all have in common is the character of Portland. Film and the vibrant art scene in this city help us write our own narrative and portrayal of the stories that represent us and the Portland we want the rest of the World to see.” Elyse Taylor Liburd, Film Industry Project Manager.
After a thought-provoking and spirited review process, the grant panel, made up of industry professionals, awarded the three top scoring film productions $10,000 each.
Please join us in congratulating the 3 award recipients:
Something About the Tide
"Something About the Tide" is a feature-length coming-of-age dramedy for those of us over 30. The story follows a Type A addict in recovery who is tasked with reuniting her dying mother with a previous child given up for adoption, and she must choose between fulfilling her mom’s final wish or risk being replaced by her picture-perfect half-brother who is everything she should have been.
The film is directed by Desdemona Chiang, written/produced by Julia Morizawa, and lead produced by Ashley Song. Set in Portland, Oregon, the story highlights local businesses, landmarks, and is employing local crew and talent. To find out more about the film (including a pitch video produced as part of AT&T's Untold Stories program at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival) you can go to at www.somethingaboutthetide.com.
Dragathon: Meeting Hate with Joy
photo by: Holly Andres
In 2023 hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation were introduced prompting three friends to set out to break the Guinness World Record for the longest drag show ever at Portland's historic Darcelle XV Showplace. Dragathon: Meeting Hate With Joy is a 90-minute feature-length documentary covering conception through 48-hour execution with intercuts of personal stories from the events performers from local queens to RuPaul's Drag Race talent and emcees from politicians to Saturday Night Live alumni involved. This film is brought to you by executive producers Eden Dawn and Emma Mcilroy. Eden Dawn is an award-winning journalist from her years as senior editor of Portland Monthly magazine, a PNBA and Powell’s bestselling author, curator of the Fashion in Film series at the Hollywood Theater, and a life-long Oregonian. Emma Mcilroy is a queer-feminist-Irish-immigrant-female-CEO. She is the founder and CEO of Wildfang, a fashion brand on a mission to rewrite the future of gender. Director Pamela Ralat is an Emmy Award-winning documentary producer and editor. She earned a finalist position for the Karen Schmeer Editing Fellowship for emerging doc editors with her first feature-length film, a prestigious recognition by the American Cinema Editors.
"Every 45 seconds in this county a young LGBTQ+ person attempts suicide. Our goal with breaking the world record was for those kids to see a community that will stand up for them. And now the documentary will spread that message widely to queer kids everywhere that Portland is a place that will show up for them and love them, just as they are, because they are perfect."
Leaders of Men
"Leaders of Men" is a compelling documentary that follows Portland football coaches Anthony Stoudamire of Jefferson High School and Ryan McCants of Roosevelt High School, capturing the transformative power of mentorship and the role of coaches as community role models. Set against the backdrop of Portland's North neighborhoods, this film delves into the lives of two dedicated coaches as they guide and inspire their players, all while preparing for their much-anticipated rivalry game. Through this journey, "Leaders of Men" showcases the lasting impact of mentorship both on and off the field. This is a story of leadership, coming-of-age and community.
This film, directed by Lorenzo Lowe III of A Stella Visual, draws on his years working for the Coalition of Black Men Dream Bigger Mentoring Program working to uplift youth and families. Throughout this time, he also filmed for various community organizations, capturing the spirit and dedication of local leaders striving for change. "Leaders of Men" is the culmination of these experiences, blending his perspective as both a filmmaker, mentor and mentee to spotlight the impactful work happening here in Portland.